The Soviet Union inaugurates the “Space Age” with its launch of Sputnik,
the world’s first artificial satellite. The spacecraft, named Sputnik after the
Russian word for “satellite,” was launched at 10:29 p.m. Moscow time from
the Tyuratam launch base in the Kazakh Republic. Sputnik had a diameter
of 22 inches and weighed 184 pounds and circled Earth once every hour
and 36 minutes. Traveling at 18,000 miles an hour, its elliptical orbit had an
apogee (farthest point from Earth) of 584 miles and a perigee (nearest point)
of 143 miles. Visible with binoculars before sunrise or after sunset, Sputnik transmitted radio signals back to Earth strong enough to be picked up by
amateur radio operators. Those in the United States with access to such
equipment tuned in and listened in awe as the beeping Soviet spacecraft
passed over America several times a day. In January 1958, Sputnik’s orbit deteriorated, as expected, and the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere.

ED DANAHUE

Approximately 600 people died when fire broke out at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, IL. on this day in 1903. The theater was billed
as being fire proof, much the same way the Titanic was said to be 
unsinkable. The fire one of the most horrific events in Chicago’s
history.

Drawing depicts the scene inside the lobby when fire broke out in the
Iroquois Theater.

On this day in 1936, the United Auto Workers union staged its first
sit-down strike, at the Fisher Body Plant in Flint, MI. The Flint Sit–
Down Strike is known as the most important strike in American
history because it changed the United Automobile Workers (UAW)

The UAW was founded as part of the
Congress of Industrial Organizations
(CIO) in the 1930s and grew rapidly
from 1936 to the 1950s.

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

During World War II on this day in 1942, naval battle of Guadalcanal
began between Japanese and American forces. The battle ended on
February 9, 1943 with the U.S. winning a major victory.
 

U.S. Marines, with full battle gear, charge ashore on Guadalcanal
Island.

The Washington opens fire on the Kirishima, November 15, 1942
during the Battle of Guadalcanal: painting by Lt. Dwight Shepler,
USNR.

Neil Percival Young is 73 years old today.

Young a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. After embarking on
a music career in the 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he formed
Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and others.

Actress Daryl Hannah and Neil Young were married in August in
a top-secret ceremony near San Luis Obispo, California. They 
had been dating since 2014.